OCD Questionnaire Part 2

Yesterday I talked a little about OCD, obsessive thoughts and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. I answered the first five questions on the test which are about obsessions.

Yesterday I talked a little about OCD, obsessive thoughts and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. I answered the first five questions on the test which are about obsessions. Today I’ll answer the remaining five questions about the compulsions that accompany OCD. A compulsion is an act you must do to relieve the distress and fear brought on by the obsession.

6. “How much time do you spend performing compulsive behaviors? How much longer than most people does it take to complete routine activities because of your rituals? How frequently do you do rituals?”

Over the years I’ve become better at resisting compulsions so I answered 2 out of 4 (Frequent performance of compulsive behaviors). My most troublesome compulsion is called “checking”. I check and double check everything. Are my keys in my purse? Are my journals safe in their fireproof boxes (I have an obsession over house fires)? Are my Winnie the Pooh shirts in my room? That’s the physical aspect of checking. I also do verbal checking asking my parents multiple times “You won’t stop loving me right?” I even check with my boyfriend asking him “You won’t leave me will you?” It’s exhausting to be checking all the time but that seems what my life is made of. 

7. “How much do your compulsive behaviors interfere with your work, school, social, or other important role functioning? Is there anything you don’t do because of the compulsions?”

I selected 2 again (“definite interference with social or occupational performance but still manageable”). I was unable to keep a job because OCD demands perfection. And I am unable to deliver that. Everyone is. OCD also has a history of ruining my social life. During middle school, I lost many friendships because I was always asking for reassurance and kids just thought I was weird. I was too ashamed to tell them I was on meds for a very serious disorder and that “playing normal” was a struggle. Thankfully, more adults seem to understand it although many do toss about the term “OCD” like it’s nothing. 

8. “How would you feel if prevented from performing your compulsions? How anxious would you become?”This is a definite 3 (“Prominent and very disturbing increase in anxiety if compulsions interrupted”). If someone interrupts my checking or refuses to answer a checking question I get extremely agitated. Sometimes I have trouble breathing or I get dizzy. I was so worried, I would get physically sick. I get temporary relief from checking but it is always temporary. It’ll be just five minutes before the next obsession has taken hold.

9. “How much of an effort do you make to resist the compulsions?”This was a 1 for me (try to resist most of the time). I’m a fighter. Once I was a doormat for my OCD, but then I realized that only reinforced the severity of the obsessions and compulsions. But sometimes even I lose the battle.

10. “How strong is the drive to perform the compulsive behavior? How much control do you have over the compulsions?”

I picked 2 (Strong pressure to perform behavior, can control it only with difficulty). I can usually do battle with the OCD. But if I’m tired or stressed from outside factors or sick, it weakens me and the OCD gets a leg up. I have to keep myself in tip top shape to win this war.